Naming your new kitty is and should be a completely subjective experience, Most of us think of our pets as our children or at least as extended family. A pet’s name should reflect love and thought. Many cats seem to respond to sibilant sounds, while others don’t seem to know their names at all. Still others do know their names, and come whenever they are called (or whenever they feel like responding to your call).
A name, whether for a cat or a person, should be an indicator of an essence, a unique persona. In the case of an animal, color and personality are two focuses that often work when looking for the perfect name. Whatever you do, don’t do what an unimaginative friend of mine did a number of years ago. He adopted two cats from a local animal shelter, one black short-hair and one white. When I paid him a visit, to meet the two new kitties, he introduced them to me as “black cat” and “white cat.” Surely anyone can do better than that!
If you are stuck for a name, find a different way to go with the color. For example, even Mr. Black works better than “black cat.” An orange tabby could be called “Mango” or Tangerine” or “Tangelo.” A cat with many spotted or dotted markings might go for “Spotta Dottta.” Consider too the name of “Graphite” for a grey cat. Come up with something different than Oreo for a black and white animal. How about Dash or Dabble? The options are endless and only limited by the confines of your own imagination.
If you would rather name your new kitty for its personality traits, consider the following options: “Fickle,” “Lover Boy,” “Romeo,” (more poetic), “Skittles, “Reckless” and “Runs With Socks.’ (I have a cat that does that.)
Maybe you would rather name your new cat after another cat or a person. That’s fine too, but be careful of names that are too long or entangling. Eugenia Marie Elise and Hathaway Stanford may not work as well as Percival or Hugo.
In conclusion, think about how you would feel with the name you are bestowing on your cat. Would you like it? If not, then the cat probably won’t either! Whatever you call it, call it with love and take care for it. That’s much more important than whatever you choose to name it!
Happy Naming!